Dubai Announces New Travel Protocols For Inbound Passengers

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai, headed by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced updated travel protocols on Wednesday, January 27. 

The updated protocols make pre-travel PCR tests mandatory for UAE residents, GCC citizens and travellers arriving in Dubai irrespective of the country they are coming from.

The new regulations come into effect from Sunday, January 31.  The committee has also made changes to the validity period of PCR tests reducing it from 96 hours to 72 hours. 

A statement was released in the Government of Dubai’s Media Office site informing the public about the revised travel protocols. The statement said the updates are part of the Committee’s keenness “to protect passengers and ease hassles for them without compromising on Covid-19 precautionary measures put in place to safeguard everyone’s health and wellbeing”.

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management has asked all inbound passengers, wherever they are coming from, to take a PCR test prior to departure for Dubai. The arrivals from certain countries (based on the pandemic situation in those countries) are required to conduct an additional test on arrival in Dubai. 

However, protocols will remain the same for UAE citizens returning to the country from overseas, which exempt them from undergoing a PCR test before departure, regardless of the country they are coming from. They will only be required to take a PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

The committee has also directed Dubai Airports to provide Rapid PCR or Rapid Antigen testing to facilitate travel procedures for passengers departing from Dubai to countries that mandate this type of pre-travel test.

The statement said the updated travel protocols are “part of a regular process of revising and optimising precautionary measures based on the latest local, regional and international developments”.

“They are also aimed at enabling the city to continue serving as a global commercial hub and a bridge for travel and trade between the east and west,” the statement added. 

The passengers arriving in Dubai should quarantine themselves until the test result comes in and is negative. But, if the result is positive, the person should practice self-quarantine and home isolation for 10 days.

The travelers can get updates about their on-arrival Covid-19 tests from the Al Hosn app. 

Also, visitors and residents will have to follow guidelines released by the Dubai Health Authority regarding Covid-19 regulations.